Quick-acting closure for tubes, bottles, and the like



Nov. 1, 1938. s. 0. ENDiCOTT QUICK ACTING CLOSURE FOR TUBES, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March so, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheep 1 A IIIIIII III \\\\k\ Ill 1 mmi h 4 m m w w -H w. w il a 33 r ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Ci Endwofi NOV. 1, 1938. s c ENDICQTT 2,134,968

QUICK ACTING CLOSURE FOR TUBES, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Filed March 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Solomcgp C3, Endiwfl' ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 1, 1935 "PATENT OFFICE QUICK-ACTING CLOSURE FOR TUBES, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE Solomon 0. Endicott, Eugene, Oreg.

Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,761 V 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-70) My present invention relates to that general class of devices which are employed as closures for receptacles of various types'and, more specifically, to a quick-acting closure for tubes, bottles, and the like.

There is an ever increasing demand for a closure to be used on containers for cosmetics, dentifrices and materials of general use, either in the form of liquids, pastes, or powders which, because of the frequent use of the same, requires a closure which will fully seal the contents, prevent spilling and which can be opened easily with full assurance that the closing device will not become lost. It is to supply a device to meetthese recognized needs that I have created my quick acting closure.

My present invention follow s to a degree the general design of my receptacle closure shown in my United States Letters Patent Number 1,715,- 452. In my present construction, however, I have overcome certain deficiencies of my former closure. I have provided means that will assure its more satisfactory operation; means which will assure against any possible losing of the closure device and which because of its present construction will lend itself more readily to a wider field of use in that it can be very economically manu factured in quantity.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, where- 1n- Figure l is an elevationof my closure of a type that might be used quite generally as a closure for bottles, collapsible tubes, or any other similar use.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through the device of Figure 1, showing the same in its closed position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the first stage of the opening of my closure. V

Figure 4 shows my device entirely open, making available the material stored in the receptacle and further showing the operation of the friction securing means which prevents the further movement of the thread engaging means.

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, with the cutting plane revolved ninety degrees from Figure 4. I

Figure 6 illustrates a modified form of con.- struction in which a single thread is used on the receptacle.

Figure 7 illustrates my closure as applied to an air valve stem of the typeused on automobile tires.

Figure 8 shows in an exploded perspective view the essential parts making up my present device.

Figure 9 illustrates my device as applied to a collapsible tube such as used for toothpaste, shaving cream, cosmetic preparations and the like.

Figure 10 is a perspective View showing the convenient manner in which my closure may be used as on a powder can, or bottle containing liquid, illustrating how the material can be shaken, or poured, from the container without in any way having the closure device interfere with the operation.

- Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View through the collar used with my device illustrating more completelythe difference in depth of the securing grooves which accomplish a very definite purpose in my present design.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters'indicate like parts, [4 designates the usual reduced, neck portion as is common with many types of containers such as collapsible tubes, bottles and the like. neck I provide, preferably, two oppositely disposed threads, or grooves, as It and I1. These threads as distinguished from those formerly used as disclosed in my Patent 1,715,452 do not extend to the end of the neck portion but stop somewhat short of the end after the showing,

particularly of Figures 5 and 8. These threads are molded, or otherwise formed, as grooves having, preferably, uniform depth throughout.

Disposed between the ends of the threads or grooves thus provided and the extreme end of neck portion are cam guideways l9 and 20. These have at the faceof neck I4, substantially the same depth as threads I6 and H, but as they approach the end of the threads they taper toward the periphery of the neck and entirely run out before they meet the end of the thread. These are toprovide means for assembling my closure which will be more fully explained later. Encircling neck l4 and of a size to provide reasonable clearance therefrom, is the ,closure collar 22. This is provided with a straight, cylindrical bore, thereby being distinguished from collar 22, I provide additional grooves 34 and 35.

'Ihese-grooves'runfrom openings 26 and 21, upwardly to the upper surface 36 of collar 22, and as in the case of grooves 29 and 30, they also are made .to accommodate bail member 32. One feature that greatly influences the operation of my closure is the fact that grooves 34 and 35 are Into this It has, however,

of less depth than grooves 29 and 30. The relationship being substantially as shown in Figure l1.

Adapted for co-action with collar 32 is the cap, or closure member proper, 40. This, as is true also in the case of collar 22, may be formed from any suitable materials such as die casting the same of metal, or by molding them from the' Inside of resin base materials such as Bakelite. cap 43 I provide a sealing gasket 42. This may be cork, rubber, or other suitable, compressible materials. Secured to cap is bail member 32. The exact manner of securing the two? together will be largely indicated by the conditions under which the device is to be used. It is desirable. particularly for closures wherein neck I4 is small, to have bail 32 so secured to cap 40 that the entire cap, and hail, as a unit will pivot about the inturned ends of bail 32 as 44 and 45. It will be understood itis believed that if large closures are to be accommodated it might be desirable to have caps 43 pivot upon the straight bar 4''! of bail 32 to the end that collar 22 would not have to be moved so far up the neck in order to make it possible-to swing the cap free of the same.

In Figure 6 I have indicated a modified form of my present device in which all the described characteristics of cap are'retained but collar 52 departs to a degree from the form of collar 22 in'that while openings'54 and are co -axially disposed they are not. in a plane normal to the axis of neck 14. This arrangement might be'dee sirable under certain conditions Whfire it is considered necessary to use a single thread 56 as .dise tinguished from the other form-- in whichtwo threads or grooves are used.

In Figure '7 I have illustrated my closure means as applied to a tire valve stem 5!). The construc-, tion of the various-parts, is exactly as described above and it functions in the identical manner.

- It does, however, provide a very convenient means of closing such a device in a secure manner with the various parts so securely tied together that there would never be any dangerof loss. The. cap itself would be well, out'of the range of the air hose attachment if the side legs of bail 32 are made substantially after the showing of Fig-f ure 7; somewhat longer. than illustrated in the other views. This necessitates somewhat longer grooves at 6!, which grooves, however, would have the same function and otherwise beisimi r o rooves. l9 a d 0- Method of operation Assuming that the various parts of my device have been constructed along the lines indicated, the first operation in the use of the cap will be to assemble the closure as a unit To do this the first operation will be to engage the inturned end 44 and 45 n' p n i t an Zl ell rzk The next operation will be-to slide collar 22 ove n ion nd o n ge the int 'ned nds M nd .5 o bail t2 in.v e i d y tan em: A continued downward pressure will now spring outwa d th e i turn d' nds u i h vt ss ar-enou h dow to n a e theupper limit of r oves. Hi and IL Th ndsw ll ne s in we dl o thei normal o tio as dit e i u e 2 nd 3- n h onges on sho ld he oi ted out t t e rms car in -t e n a d y fixtfi iding detents as 44 and 45, should be of re-.-

- 1 l im? silient material. They need not necessarily be formed of a single piece as indicated in the drawings, but it has been found that piano wire fashioned after the forms indicated, is a very satisfactory means.

The closure is now in condition for use with detents 44 and 45 providing the thread or groove engaging means and in this respect taking the place of the threads formerly employed in the structure shown in my Patent Number 1,715,452.

As observedin Figures 2, 3 and 6 it will be noticed that the ends of detents 44 and 45 do not engage the bottom of grooves l6 and I1, or the botto nof groove 56, Consequently, as long as the cap is positioned by grooves 34 and 35 after the showing of Figure 3, the whole device can'be screwed very easily, either upwardly, to release the cap,,or downwardly to effect a'secure seating. For normaluse the pitch of thread l5 and I 'I should be sufficient so that a half turn of the cap will release it from. neck I4 so that it'may be swung over into the position indicated in the Figures {1; 5, 7 and 10, this position being assured by havingdetents 4. and 45 abut a shoulder at the upper ends of the threads. When in this posiztionas illustrated specifically in Figure 4, the

of detents 4 4 and 45 are in secure engagement with the bottom of the thread and, as illusrated by e do line showing a 58 a d 59. he e ssufii ien c a ce b twe n the botto of grooves 29 and 36 and the legs of bail member 32 so that the full force of the inward pressure, that n be ex d b ba l .2, a pp e to he b tom of o l6 d H, and thus lock the device in its position of use. In this position the on a ner an e s k n as i at d in Ha ure 10 or if the container is a tube as indicated in Figure 9 i m b la d down, and, still the car wi ot c e p up n'the ea so a hen it is swun ha n o axia a i nm t h e wi be n inte en b w en t e cap a d nec 4. a d a ha t urn n' he reverse e ti n wi l-be sufiicient to seat the cap upon gasket 42 and seurely ea th c ntai e It i desi a e o point out that there may be certain conditions of use Whe e he ste p h o thr ad B and m ht cause the closure to loosen under vibration or unusu l strain;- Th s can b o er om by de- 9 7. in e h. w th sufficient engtheni f threads 15- a I1 so tha one or ore fu turns will be required to operate the closure. y

The to e o e de i n d h accompany-- ing drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes. in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and sp t Qi th o ow cla m.

In a closure the combination with a receptacle including-a neck having exterior spiral grooves thereon andfa pair of opposed diverging grooves on said neck, of an annular collar for said neck havin Op os d. nss t ere h o tal, tangentially disposed grooves on its outer face, and vertically disposed grooves terminating insaid tangentially disposed grooves; a resilient bail having a pivotally mounted cap thereon, and the ends of said bail terminating in inturned pins adapted to journal in said openings.

" SOLOMON C. ENDICOTT. 

